For an older adult, the choice between assisted living and independent living usually depends on how well an individual can manage daily activities without extra assistance. Examples of daily activities include, but are not limited to: preparing meals, personal hygiene, managing medications, completing household chores, driving/coordinating transportation, and maintaining personal finances. Someone who has difficulty with any of these daily "independent" activities may want to consider the maintenance-free lifestyle of an assisted living community.

It is important that you feel at home in your new senior living home. But how do you know if you're actually going to be comfortable and happy in this new space? Whether it be our Middlewoods Assisted and Independent Living Community in Farmington or Newington, we have your comfort in mind. We invite you to try out maintenance-free living with our unique 60-day trial stay....with no long term commitment!

The holiday season is a time of light-heartedness, gift giving and family gatherings. It’s also a time when many caregivers feel resentful and often times a little worn down. While everyone is enjoying the hustle and bustle of the season, caregivers tend to be bogged down with extra obligations while caring for the growing needs of an aging parent.

And The Mountains Echoed is a fascinating and disturbing novel by Khalem Hosseni, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. In heart wrenching detail, he tells the story of a family from Afghanistan over a sixty-year period, each one of who continue to be affected by decisions made in earlier generations. It is a sometimes-grim reminder that, while we are free to alter our responses to the events of our lives, thus changing ourselves in some real way, we are always to some extent the product of our past.

The final decision on a senior living community that’s right for you will come down to two closing points: 1) quality services and 2) affordable cost. To accurately evaluate an assisted living community, you must be willing to compare these services and costs with your unique needs and financial capability. Working from a cost-benefit angle will help steer you in the right direction.

Knowing when is the right time to move your loved one into assisted living is not easy. You may have seen warning signs that put you on edge, such as out-of-character behaviors and various odd incidents at home which planted the seed of alternative care in your head. The fact that you are having this mental conflict in the first place is a sign in itself to start the conversation with your loved ones.

If you are sociable or private, opinionated or easy-going, these are the range of characteristics you may encounter in an assisted living community. In many respects, assisted living creates the ultimate sense of community; it’s where you’ll likely garner that sense of belonging and comfort as you intermingle with a diverse resident-group, and have access to a variety of built-in services.

With so many tragedies happening in the world, it is important to take a step back and remember the good things people do. The tragic event at Sandy Hook Elementary School has led to the creation of the “26 Acts of Kindness”. These acts were created to honor the twenty-six lives that were lost and to spread the importance of being kind to others. The acts began with giving sweet notes of encouragement to strangers, giving cookies to first responders, and donating to “Toys for Tots”. The “26 Acts of Kindness” can be as simple as saying thank you, or purchasing someone’s coffee for them in the morning. By passing on kindness, the world is reminded of the good in people and not just the tragedy in our world.

Moving your loved one into an assisted living community can be a challenging time for any family. This is especially true for the person who will be making the move. A new place, new neighbors and new caretakers can be a lot for someone of an advanced age to think about. Here are some tips on how to make an assisted living transition a little bit easier on your loved one.

How many of you remember the old McDonald’s ad… “You deserve a break today”? Those caring for their elderly loved-ones need to take this advice to heart! Caregivers are the overlooked victim in any disease. Everyone relies on them for just about everything and to always know what to do.

Once a senior decides to move into an assisted living community, the next step is for them to start preparations to move. It is completely normal for both seniors and their loved ones to feel some apprehension and a sense of loss, which is common during all of life's transitions. With some preparation, as well as guidance from the staff at your assisted living of choice in CT, it is possible to make this move smoothly and without a significant degree of emotional distress.